Hope Renewed
David Drake
and S.M. Stirling
Baen, Jul 1 2014, $14.00
ISBN 9781476736587
“The Sword.” On planet Bellevue, Raj Whitehall visits the Center battle computer to discuss
recent events (see The Forge) with his friend Thom Poplanich, who temporary is
revived from stasis. Raj and his wife
Suzette fear that his military victories leave him at great risk from either
public execution or assassins working for Civic Government Governor Barholm
Clerett, whose late wife Anne was Whitehall’s greatest supporter. Chancellor Robert Tzetzas has begun the
process of destroying the top general. Everything
changes when the Colony led by Ali the Settler and Tewfik invades land with a
strong force that quickly takes Gurnyca.
To his disbelief, Barholm learns the tribute to the Colony has been
underfunded and his troops unprepared for combat; both due to the corrupt Chancellor. Raj agrees to lead a counter force to defend Sandoral
knowing he will be outnumbered 3:1.
“The Chosen.” Once a highly regarded general, Raj Whitehall’s essence has merged with the Center battle
computer as they work in consort to achieve the goal of a Federation-like
renaissance by duplicating themselves to deploy on other planets. They recruit youthful Santanders John Hosten
and Jeffrey Farr to counter what is happening on Visager.
This omnibus
reprint contains books 5 and 6 of the exciting General military science fiction
thriller (see Hope Reborn for 1 and 2, and Hope Returned for 3 and 4). Though there is a déjà vu feel to the Sword,
this is a terrific climax to the Raj as field general saga. The Chosen is a supernova change to the series
that once the audience adjusts turns into an entertaining military outer space
epic.
Harriet Klausner
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